Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story stated the Surrey Police Service released the officer’s name who died. However, they have not released his name, nor confirmed his identity. Global News regrets the error.
More details are coming to light about the off-duty Surrey Police Service constable who took his own life at a Langley, B.C., gun range Wednesday. Witnesses included police officers.
Twenty-six-year-old Dilbag “Dylan” Hothi previously served in the military and worked as a Surrey RCMP officer.
SPS Media Liaison Ian MacDonald told Global News the officer had been off-duty since last August, suspended with pay and under investigation for breach of trust.
“It was a breach of trust investigation that was being fronted by the Surrey RCMP and was working its way through BC Prosecution Service,” MacDonald said.
Ron MacDonald with the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. (IIO) says the incident may be linked to criminal allegations against Hothi.
The IIO is called in whenever police are involved in an incident wherein their action or inaction results in injury or death.
“Those are the types of facts we’re looking at and trying to determine,” MacDonald told Global News.
“We understand that police were there in response to the incident that the individual was involved in, perhaps prior to that incident occurring, but we’re not sure what if any interaction there was between police and this individual.”
Surrey RCMP are not sharing details about their breach of trust investigation into the officer, nor will they confirm he was about to be charged.
Other related court documents are sealed.
However, Langley RCMP did confirm Wednesday they were dispatched to “The Range Langley” for a man in distress.
Sources tell Global News Hothi was no longer in possession of his service revolver. It’s unclear if he had a personal weapon.
Also unknown is if a recent risk assessment was done on officer Hothi, to determine mental health or safety concerns.
-With files from Catherine Urquhart
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